Word of the Year

Before I tell you what it is, let me catch you up with what’s happened over the last month.

Between writing some essays on self-publishing and working on my story bible, I’ve banished most of the fog. I still have to deal with the normal ADHD brain weasels, but they’re not hiding in the left over mists of chemo and radiation.

I still have no spit and little by way of strength or physical stamina. Luckily it doesn’t take much to sit and type. Which I’ve been doing a lot.

Status

Every time I try to get back into Ishmael’s story line, I trip on something I need to know and waste time looking for it. I got tired of it and started writing the story bible for Ishmael’s universe. I finished up through Owner’s Share yesterday and will move on to the Seeker’s Tales today. My goal: Finish with By Darkness Forged by the 14th.

But I’m only going to work on back-filling for an hour or so a day. I need to get the new books loaded, too, so I know where all the moving parts. The next three books aren’t exactly self-contained, hence my drive to finish the backstory parts of the bible, but there’s enough to keep me busy just loading up names, places, dates, and key points.

I hope the work will pay off with a streamlined and clean second draft for the first book by the end of February with book two and three falling in March and April. I’ll be looking for betas and I need to see if my editor has any time available, but that’s a future-me problem.

What Am I Reading?

With all the writing and organizational stuff I’ve been doing, my reading has slacked off to a couple of books a week. Almost all my current sample pile comes from my Mastodon friends, so expect to see a lot of new names over the next year.

Today I’m finishing up book 2 of Kat Ross’s Nightmarked series. It’s a bit dark, but the richness of the setting makes up for it. A new-to-me magic system that develops – even for the characters – as the story goes on. A whole world full of people, some good, some evil, some just chaotic. All very real, even those that aren’t.

Ross hooked me on book 1. I’m just holding on for the ride at this point and it’s so totally worth it.

But don’t take my word for it. You know what to do.

Notes in the Margin:

A lot of people have asked about my favorite books from the last year. Of the 248 or so, my answer changes by the hour and day. As a partial answer, I downloaded my entire reading list for the year, sorted it into alphabetical order by author, and formatted it for you. The series and volume sort didn’t work the way I wanted but feel free to peruse it. Some of them are better than others, but every one of them passed the “sample first” test and held my attention to the end.

If you want to more about the books I’m reading this year, I also started a book review account. As I finish them, I’ll toss them in there for anybody to read. See what I’ve finished reading at The Unseen City. They won’t all be SF/F but I don’t review books I didn’t like. I reviewed City of Storms a few days ago.

Looking Ahead

I have another PET scan coming up this month. Six months after the completion of treatment. We’re not expecting to find anything too exciting. Fingers crossed for no surprises.

Oh, the Word of the Year thing?

I heard about this idea from Darusha Wehm who got it from C L Polk. Instead of having a list of resolutions that get forgotten by next weekend, we’ve picked focus words to guide our work in the coming year. The concept of having one word appealed to me – and kept me busy trying to think of the work I want to do in 2023.

Not just the writing work, although there’s plenty of that. I wanted a word that covered my recovery and establishing a new normal going forward now that all of my structures and habits have burned to the ground. I want to do more than rebuild the “before” times. Something for body, mind, and spirit.

I chose: Juggle.

It’s physical, requiring the use of the body. After last year, I have a lot of work to do to rebuild my strength and stamina.

It’s mental, requiring concentration and focus. Things I need support structures to manage.

It’s also spirit, requiring a meditation-like state of being in the moment as each one comes and goes. I want to be deliberate in my actions going forward.

It recognizes “drop,” “pickup,” and “try again” as valid – even necessary – ideas.

It’s also movement, the opposite of static.

So yeah. I’m liking Juggle. 

Until next month, safe voyage.

18 thoughts on “Word of the Year

  1. Good to see you on the path, or as Cookie would say if the path has ended we wouldn’t be having chicken (or something like that). Wishing you a positive 2023!

  2. If there’s some detail that’s eluding you, you have a loyal crew of readers who will likely be able to find it for you; just ask. Not like any of us would strongly object to a reread of the series!

    1. I frequently lean on the Hive Mind in the Golden Age FB group for this stuff.

      I suspect I will still need to. 🙂

      1. Hi Nathan, is this a FB group that I can join? I’ve been looking for it and haven’t had any luck so far. It’s probably hiding under my nose lol

  3. I second that, an Ishmael bible would be a great addition to my Lowell collection, especially on top of, or even as a starter for, 3 new Ishmael books

    So glad for you that things are clearing, so glad for me (and your other readers) that there is new stuff on the horizon

    Stay well, look after yourself

  4. Love to get your updates and thrilled that you’re continuing to heal. I didn’t realize that you had a Facebook group and will join. That said, I echo another comment that many of your avid Ishmael fans (I’m definitely one) would be happy to help on a project like you described if such help would be of benefit. Not sure how one goes about supporting your beta reader program but would welcome a chance to assist there as well. I’ll check in on Facebook and see if there is more information. Many thanks for everything you do. My thoughts and prayers are for a clean scan and a wonderful 2023 for us all. Kind regards.

  5. Leaning on family and friends is difficult for most of us; you have a significant cadre of readers out here who will be delighted to pitch in on whatever you need. For those of us not (and will never be) on FB, you have our emails. Ishmael has grown a lot since his Podiobook debut and I, along with everyone else commenting here are looking forward to new adventures.
    Beta reading is a lot more interesting than technical editing on scientific papers (trust me on that).
    May this next year be better and easier than the last.

  6. I’m really intrigued by the word of the year concept! Also, very pleased to read about your progress with cancer treatments. My partner just stepped onto that road in December, so reading your progress gives me some perspective on what to possibly expect.

    I’ve enjoyed perusing your book recommendations, Especially. felt I won the lottery with the Shingami Detective series.

    I hope the Wizard book will get juggled back to the top of projects this year. Such anticipation!

  7. Hi, new reader and fan here,
    Absolutely loved the “Wizard’s butler”, I think it’s my favorite book of the past 12 months!
    So, as one does, eager to find out more about the author, I came to your site ready to beg you for a sequel and… well, I am glad that your cancer treatment works and that you are on the road to recovery.
    Wishing you strength and all the good luck in the world to beat this thing!
    All the best,
    Karen

  8. I’m happy that things are progressing well, and that it appears the trials are mostly behind you now. I hope that you juggle well this year, and that you have the opportunity to refine those skills for many years to come.

    A part of me can’t wait to see what hijinks Ishmael and Pip get into next, but the other part of me is just happy to know I can look forward to more of their stories. Your books had a huge impact on me when I was figuring out who I was and where I belonged, and they’ll always hold a special place for me.

    Thank you for being you, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your year,
    Lawrence

  9. Hi Nathan, you’ve been writing a lot about your process looking for inspiration on where to take the solar clipper series next. Could I please make some suggestions on where to go next that naturally occurred to me while reading? For context, I’ve read all the books in both Trader’s Tales and Seeker’s Tales. Would appreciate knowing you’ve read the ideas.

    The ideas:
    – Natt needs to somehow be related to Bev (not necessarily genetically). Maybe they used to work together and she learned to “walk” like her. Natt could have heard of Ishmael a lot from Bev but never put the two together because Bev always called him “boy toy” even after all these years. Bev is married now and Natt should be single and get interested with Ishmael, it’s clear they have chemistry
    – Ishmael avoids repeating the same mistake he made last time and agrees to date Nat though she’s his chief
    – Introduce more business and trading please! I know it’s no longer a Trader’s tale but that was so good and should still be a thing
    – Now that the company has a culture it should become hugely successful due to its reputation. pip as ceo with all these connections should start more partnerships with Manchester, Z and N’s companies, and DST.
    – Bring Frank back in the picture
    – Five books down Ish should have babies
    – Ish should go visit Nares and find archives about his family and ancestry
    – More cool projects like the restaurant in space on the Iris
    – New ships!
    – Bring back more old characters. Cookie! Again. And Brill again. And Bev. Either by way of reunions (at the academy, at a wedding) or by way of more joining the company (recruited and convinced directly by Ishmael now that he’s fully regained his old bearing as a great leader since overcoming the depression that’s haunted him, making him an even better leader in future books as he’s able to pick up on and personally relate to any depression experienced by new crew members)

  10. I just recently found out about your Solar Clipper books (via Glynn Stewart’s comments) and have really enjoyed reading them. I’m very glad your health is improving and that you are able to continue writing.

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